African governments are embarked on a major campaign to reduce trade barriers between the continent’s countries, but while doing this, they had better take vigorous measures to boost their private sectors, a new UNCTAD report warns, or the gains from this streamlined trading system will benefit foreign firms more than African firms.

The Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD has discussed intensified cooperation for aid to Africa, with the heads of three Japanese development agencies. The meetings took place on the occasion of the fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V), which was held in Yokohama from 1 to 3 June. ​

Ugandan officials are visiting Pretoria, South Africa, from 6 to 10 May, to learn how to expand their nation’s services sector so that it boosts growth and makes the national economy less vulnerable to external shocks.​

A high-level delegation from Mozambique told the Investment, Enterprise and Development Commission Tuesday that its Government supports the recommendations made in UNCTAD's Investment Policy Review of the country, which call - among other things - for reforms to investment law.